Video modification and transmission using tokens

ABSTRACT

Modified video is distributed to a viewer of a computer-implemented game by causing a processor to distribute, toward a terminal device of a viewer, a first video including an animation of a first avatar of a distributor generated based on motion data; distribute, toward the terminal device, a second video related to a computer-implemented game generated with operation data using a received web page; receive, from the terminal device, token data indicative of a token sent to the distributor from the viewer during execution of one unit section of the game; and distribute, toward the terminal device, the second video including, during one time section occurring after the one unit section of the game ends and before a next unit section of the game begins, a rendering of a token object selected based on the token data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2019-202987, filed on Nov. 8, 2019, entitled “Computer Program, ServerDevice, and Method.” The application is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety as if set forth fully herein.

FIELD

The technology disclosed in the present application relates to acomputer program, a server device, a terminal device, and a method thatare used for distributing a video related to a game from a terminaldevice of a distributor to a terminal device of a viewer.

BACKGROUND

One example of a service used for distributing a video related to acomputer game is known a service called Mirrativ provided on a websiteidentified by the following URL.

https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/mirrativ-

/id1028944599

With this service, the distributor uses a terminal device to distribute,to the terminal devices of a plurality of viewers, a video including ananimation of an avatar generated on the basis of motion data related tothe motion of the distributor.

SUMMARY

Method and apparatus for distributing and modifying video in a networkedcomputer environment are disclosed. In some examples of a videostreaming service used with computer games, each viewer can exchangedata with a distributor including game metadata, comments, video data,audio data, image data, location data, and/or video or game commands.Each viewer can also determine to transmit one or more messages orpackets encoded with one or more tokens to the distributor. In thedisclosed technology field, such tokens may also be referred to aselective tokens or “gifts.” Similarly, token data may be referred to as“gift data.” However, the token data and such token packets transmittedby each viewer to the distributor in this way do not affect elementsused in the game played and distributed by the distributor, such as gameobjects or parameters. Therefore, it is difficult for each viewer tohave a sense of being involved in the game when viewing video related tothe game distributed from the distributor.

Accordingly, one aspect of the disclosed technology provides a computerprogram, a terminal device, a server device, and a method that canprovide a viewer with a sense of being involved in a game. Methods andapparatus are disclosed for modifying and distributing video in acomputer network responsive to transmission of token messagestransmitted from one or more viewers to a distributor. The viewers canreceive video streams or other game elements having modified encodingsbased on the tokens the viewers elected to transmit. As will beunderstood to a person of ordinary skill in the art having the benefitof the present disclosure, viewers can elect to send such tokens toindicate a message to the distributor, for example, appreciation orrespect for the distributor. Examples of practical applications of thedisclosed technologies include but are not limited to: video encodingand transcoding, audio coding and transcoding, and/or enhancement ofcomputer games implemented in a network environment modified responsiveto the distributor receiving the token.

Computer-readable storage media according to one aspect of the disclosedtechnology can be “computer-readable storage media storingcomputer-readable instructions, which when executed by a computer havingat least one processor, cause the computer to: distribute, toward aterminal device of a viewer via a communication line, a first videoincluding an animation of a first avatar of a distributor generated onthe basis of motion data or the motion data; distribute, toward theterminal device of the viewer via the communication line, a second videorelated to a computer-implemented game generated on the basis ofoperation data by using a received web page; receive, from the terminaldevice of the viewer via the communication line, token data indicativeof a token sent to the distributor from the viewer viewing the secondvideo during execution of one unit section of the game; and distribute,toward the terminal device of the viewer via the communication line, thesecond video including, during one time section occurring after the oneunit section of the game ends and before a next unit section of the gamebegins, a rendering of a token object selected on the basis of the tokendata.”

A terminal device according to one aspect of the disclosed technologycan be a “a terminal device, comprising: at least one processor, whereinthe at least one processor: distributes, toward a terminal device of aviewer via a communication line, a first video including an animation ofa first avatar of a distributor generated on the basis of motion data orthe motion data; distributes, toward the terminal device of the viewervia the communication line, a second video related to acomputer-implemented game generated on the basis of operation data byusing a received web page; receives, from the terminal device of theviewer via the communication line, gift data indicative of a gift sentto the distributor from the viewer viewing the second video duringexecution of one unit section of the game; and distributes, toward theterminal device of the viewer via the communication line, the secondvideo including, during one time section occurring after the one unitsection of the game ends and before a next unit section of the gamebegins, a rendering of a gift object selected on the basis of the giftdata.”

A method according to one aspect of the disclosed technology can be “acomputer-implemented method for automatically generating customizedvideo in an interactive network application, the method comprising: withat least one processor: distributing, toward a terminal device of aviewer via a communication line, a first video including an animation ofa first avatar of a distributor generated on the basis of motion data orthe motion data; distributing, toward the terminal device of the viewervia the communication line, a second video related to acomputer-implemented game generated on the basis of operation data byusing a received web page; receiving, from the terminal device of theviewer via the communication line, gift data indicative of a gift sentto the distributor from the viewer viewing the second video duringexecution of one unit section of the game; and distributing, toward theterminal device of the viewer via the communication line, the secondvideo including, during one time section occurring after the one unitsection of the game ends and before a next unit section of the gamebegins, a rendering of a gift object selected on the basis of the giftdata.”

Computer-readable storage media according to another aspect of thedisclosed technology can be “computer-readable storage media storingcomputer-readable instructions, which when executed by a computer havingat least one processor, cause the computer to: distribute, to a terminaldevice of a viewer via a communication line, a first video including ananimation of a first avatar of a distributor generated on the basis ofmotion data or the motion data; distribute, to the terminal device ofthe viewer via the communication line, a second video related to acomputer-implemented game generated on the basis of operation data byusing a received web page; receive, from the terminal device of theviewer via the communication line, gift data indicative of a gift sentto the distributor from the viewer viewing the second video duringexecution of one unit section of the game; and distribute, to theterminal device of the viewer via the communication line, the secondvideo generated by the terminal of the distributor including, during onetime section occurring after the one unit section of the game ends andbefore a next unit section of the game begins, a rendering of a giftobject selected on the basis of the gift data.”

A server device according to one aspect of the disclosed technology canbe “a server device, comprising: at least one processor, wherein the atleast one processor: distributes, to a terminal device of a viewer via acommunication line, a first video including an animation of a firstavatar of a distributor generated on the basis of motion data or themotion data; distributes, to the terminal device of the viewer via thecommunication line, a second video related to a computer-implementedgame generated on the basis of operation data by using a received webpage; receives, from the terminal device of the viewer via thecommunication line, gift data indicative of a gift sent to thedistributor from the viewer viewing the second video during execution ofone unit section of the game; and distributes, to the terminal device ofthe viewer via the communication line, the second video generated by theterminal of the distributor including, during one time section occurringafter the one unit section of the game ends and before a next unitsection of the game begins, a rendering of a gift object selected on thebasis of the gift data.”

A method according to another aspect of the disclosed technology can be“a computer-implemented method for automatically generating customizedvideo in an interactive network application, the method comprising: withat least one processor: distributing, to a terminal device of a viewervia a communication line, a first video including an animation of afirst avatar of a distributor generated on the basis of motion data orthe motion data; distributing, to the terminal device of the viewer viathe communication line, a second video related to a computer-implementedgame generated on the basis of operation data by using a received webpage; receiving, from the terminal device of the viewer via thecommunication line, gift data indicative of a gift sent to thedistributor from the viewer viewing the second video during execution ofone unit section of the game; and distributing, to the terminal deviceof the viewer via the communication line, the second video generated bythe terminal of the distributor including, during one time sectionoccurring after the one unit section of the game ends and before a nextunit section of the game begins, a rendering of a gift object selectedon the basis of the gift data.”

Computer-readable storage media according to another aspect of thedisclosed technology can be “computer-readable storage media storingcomputer-readable instructions, which when executed by a computer havingat least one processor, cause the computer to: receive, from a terminaldevice of a distributor via a communication line, a first videoincluding an animation of a first avatar of the distributor generated onthe basis of motion data or the motion data; receive, from the terminaldevice of the distributor via the communication line, a second videorelated to a computer-implemented game generated on the basis ofoperation data by using a received web page; and receive, from theterminal device of the distributor via the communication line, thesecond video including, during one time section occurring after a oneunit section of the game ends and before a next unit section of the gamebegins, a rendering of a gift object selected on the basis of gift data,the gift data being indicative of a gift sent to the distributor fromthe viewer viewing the second video during execution of the one unitsection of the game.

A terminal device of another aspect of the disclosed technology can be“a terminal device, comprising: at least one processor, wherein the atleast one processor: receives, from a terminal device of a distributorvia a communication line, a first video including an animation of afirst avatar of the distributor generated on the basis of motion data orthe motion data; receives, from the terminal device of the distributorvia the communication line, a second video related to acomputer-implemented game generated on the basis of operation data byusing a received web page; and receives, from the terminal device of thedistributor via the communication line, the second video including,during one time section occurring after a one unit section of the gameends and before a next unit section of the game begins, a rendering of agift object selected on the basis of gift data, the gift data beingindicative of a gift sent to the distributor from the viewer viewing thesecond video during execution of the one unit section of the game.”

A method according to another aspect of the disclosed technology can be“a computer-implemented method for automatically generating customizedvideo in an interactive network application, the method comprising: withat least one processor: receiving, from a terminal device of adistributor via a communication line, a first video including ananimation of a first avatar of the distributor generated on the basis ofmotion data or the motion data; receiving, from the terminal device ofthe distributor via the communication line, a second video related to acomputer-implemented game generated on the basis of operation data byusing a received web page; and receiving, from the terminal device ofthe distributor via the communication line, the second video including,during one time section occurring after a one unit section of the gameends and before a next unit section of the game begins, a rendering of agift object selected on the basis of gift data, the gift data beingindicative of a gift sent to the distributor from the viewer viewing thesecond video during execution of the one unit section of the game.”

A server device according to another aspect of the disclosed technologycan be “a server device, comprising at least one processor, wherein theat least one processor: transmits a web page including computer-readableinstructions to a terminal device of a distributor, the terminal devicebeing configured to: distribute, toward a terminal device of a viewervia a communication line, a first video including an animation of afirst avatar of the distributor generated on the basis of motion data orthe motion data; and distribute, toward the terminal device of theviewer via the communication line, a second video related to acomputer-implemented game generated on the basis of operation data byusing the received web page, wherein the instructions, which whenexecuted by a computer having at least one processor included in theterminal of the distributor, cause the computer to: receive, from theterminal device of the viewer via the communication line, gift dataindicative of a gift sent to the distributor from the viewer viewing thesecond video during execution of one unit section of the game; anddistribute, toward the terminal device of the viewer via thecommunication line, the second video including, during one time sectionoccurring after the one unit section of the game ends and before a nextunit section of the game begins, a rendering of a gift object selectedon the basis of the gift data.”

A method according to another aspect of the disclosed technology can be“a method computer-implemented method for automatically generatingcustomized video in an interactive network application, the methodcomprising: with at least one processor: transmitting a web pageincluding computer-readable instructions to a terminal device of adistributor, the terminal device being configured to: distribute, towarda terminal device of a viewer via a communication line, a first videoincluding an animation of a first avatar of the distributor generated onthe basis of motion data or the motion data; and distribute, toward theterminal device of the viewer via the communication line, a second videorelated to a computer-implemented game generated on the basis ofoperation data by using the received web page, wherein the instructions,which when executed by a computer having at least one processor includedin the terminal of the distributor, cause the computer to: receive, fromthe terminal device of the viewer via the communication line, gift dataindicative of a gift sent to the distributor from the viewer viewing thesecond video during execution of one unit section of the game; anddistribute, toward the terminal device of the viewer via thecommunication line, the second video including, during one time sectionoccurring after the one unit section of the game ends and before a nextunit section of the game begins, a rendering of a gift object selectedon the basis of the gift data.”

A system according to one aspect of the disclosed technology can be “asystem including first and second terminal devices and a server, whereinthe first terminal device is configured to: transmit, toward the secondterminal device via the server, a first video including an animation ofa first avatar of a distributor generated on the basis of motion data orthe motion data; and transmit, toward the second terminal device via theserver, a second video related to a computer-implemented game generatedon the basis of operation data by using a received web page, wherein thesecond terminal device is configured to transmit, toward the firstterminal device via the server, gift data indicative of a gift sent tothe distributor from a viewer viewing the second video during executionof one unit section of the game, wherein the first terminal device isfurther configured to transmit, toward the second terminal device viathe server, the second video including, during one time sectionoccurring after the one unit section of the game ends and before a nextunit section of the game begins, a rendering of a gift object selectedon the basis of the gift data.”

A method according to another aspect of the disclosed technology can be“a method in a system comprising first and second terminal devices and aserver, including: the first terminal device transmitting, toward thesecond terminal device via the server, a first video including ananimation of a first avatar of a distributor generated on the basis ofmotion data or the motion data; the first terminal device transmitting,toward the second terminal device via the server, a second video relatedto a computer-implemented game generated on the basis of operation databy using a received web page; the second terminal device transmitting,toward the first terminal device via the server, gift data indicative ofa gift sent to the distributor from a viewer viewing the second videoduring execution of one unit section of the game; and the first terminaldevice transmitting, toward the second terminal device via the server,the second video including, during one time section occurring after theone unit section of the game ends and before a next unit section of thegame begins, a rendering of a gift object selected on the basis of thegift data.”

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. All trademarks used herein remain the property of theirrespective owners. This Summary is not intended to identify key featuresor essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intendedto be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Theforegoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosedsubject matter will become more apparent from the following DetailedDescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of avideo delivery system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a hardwareconfiguration of a terminal device (server device) shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a functionof the terminal device shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a functionof the server device shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5A is a flow diagram showing an example of an operation performedin the video delivery system shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5B is a flow diagram showing an example of an operation performedin the video delivery system shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an example of a first video displayedon a display unit of the terminal device shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an example of a second videodisplayed on the display unit of the terminal device when a first unitsection of the game is being executed by the terminal device shown inFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an example of the second videodisplayed on the display unit of the terminal device at the time pointwhen the first unit section of the game is ended by the terminal deviceshown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing an example of the second videodisplayed on the display unit of the terminal device when a first timesection of the game is being executed by the terminal device shown inFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing a specific example of an operationperformed in the video distribution system shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another example of the second videodisplayed on the display unit of the terminal device when the first unitsection of the game is being executed by the terminal device shown inFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing still another example of the secondvideo displayed on the display unit of the terminal device when thefirst unit section of the game is being executed by the terminal deviceshown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing another example of the second videodisplayed on the display unit of the terminal device at the time pointwhen the first unit section of the game is ended by the terminal deviceshown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing another example of the second videodisplayed on the display unit of the terminal device when the first timesection of the game is being executed by the terminal device shown inFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing a method of selecting a tokenobject to be displayed in each time section in the video distributionsystem shown in FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing another example of the second videodisplayed on the display unit of the terminal device when the first timesection of the game is being executed by the terminal device shown inFIG. 1 .

FIG. 17 is a diagram outlining an example computing environment in whichdisclosed methods and apparatus can be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is set forth in the context of representativeembodiments that are not intended to be limiting in any way.

As used in this application the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.” Further, the term“coupled” encompasses mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, as wellas other practical ways of coupling or linking items together, and doesnot exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupleditems. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “and/or” means any one itemor combination of items in the phrase.

The systems, methods, and apparatus described herein should not beconstrued as being limiting in any way. Instead, this disclosure isdirected toward all novel features and aspects of the various disclosedembodiments, alone and in various combinations and subcombinations withone another. The disclosed systems, methods, and apparatus are notlimited to any specific aspect or feature or combinations thereof, nordo the disclosed things and methods require that any one or morespecific advantages be present or problems be solved. Furthermore,features or aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be used in variouscombinations and subcombinations with one another.

Although the operations of some of the disclosed methods are describedin a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it shouldbe understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangement,unless a particular ordering is required by specific language set forthbelow. For example, operations described sequentially may in some casesbe rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake ofsimplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in whichthe disclosed things and methods can be used in conjunction with otherthings and methods. Additionally, the description sometimes uses termslike “produce,” “generate,” “display,” “receive,” “evaluate,” and“distribute” to describe the disclosed methods. These terms arehigh-level descriptions of the actual operations that are performed. Theactual operations that correspond to these terms will vary depending onthe particular implementation and are readily discernible by one ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure.

Theories of operation, scientific principles, or other theoreticaldescriptions presented herein in reference to the apparatus or methodsof this disclosure have been provided for the purposes of betterunderstanding and are not intended to be limiting in scope. Theapparatus and methods in the appended claims are not limited to thoseapparatus and methods that function in the manner described by suchtheories of operation.

Any of the disclosed methods can be implemented usingcomputer-executable instructions stored on one or more computer-readablemedia (e.g., non-transitory computer-readable storage media, such as oneor more optical media discs, volatile memory components (such as DRAM orSRAM), or nonvolatile memory components (such as hard drives and solidstate drives (SSDs))) and executed on a computer (e.g., any commerciallyavailable computer, including smart phones or other mobile devices thatinclude computing hardware). Any of the computer-executable instructionsfor implementing the disclosed techniques, as well as any data createdand used during implementation of the disclosed embodiments, can bestored on one or more computer-readable media (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media). The computer-executable instructionscan be part of, for example, a dedicated software application, or asoftware application that is accessed or downloaded via a web browser orother software application (such as a remote computing application).Such software can be executed, for example, on a single local computer(e.g., as an agent executing on any suitable commercially availablecomputer) or in a network environment (e.g., via the Internet, awide-area network, a local-area network, a client-server network (suchas a cloud computing network), or other such network) using one or morenetwork computers.

For clarity, only certain selected aspects of the software-basedimplementations are described. Other details that are well known in theart are omitted. For example, it should be understood that the disclosedtechnology is not limited to any specific computer language or program.For instance, the disclosed technology can be implemented by softwarewritten in C, C++, Java, or any other suitable programming language.Likewise, the disclosed technology is not limited to any particularcomputer or type of hardware. Certain details of suitable computers andhardware are well-known and need not be set forth in detail in thisdisclosure.

Furthermore, any of the software-based embodiments (comprising, forexample, computer-executable instructions for causing a computer toperform any of the disclosed methods) can be uploaded, downloaded, orremotely accessed through a suitable communication means. Such suitablecommunication means include, for example, the Internet, the World WideWeb, an intranet, software applications, cable (including fiber opticcable), magnetic communications, electromagnetic communications(including RF, microwave, and infrared communications), electroniccommunications, or other such communication means.

As will be described in further detail herein, certain examples of thedisclosed technology can be used in a networked video transmissionsystem to provide interactive applications, such as games, social media,and other forms of interactive communication. In some examples, tokendata can be transmitted from a viewer terminal device to a distributorterminal device operating concurrently to provide an interactiveapplication. A server at the distributor, or the distributor terminaldevice itself, can process the data to render modified video data thatis encoded and sent to the viewer terminal device. This allows forinteractive applications to be processed at the distributor, which canreduce the amount of computing resources required at the viewer terminaldevices to render the modified video data locally. Further, in someexamples, the modified video data is transmitted not just to the viewerdevice that sent token data, but can also be transmitted to other viewerdevices participating in the interactive application. This can furtherreduce computing resources required at each of the additional viewerdevices or allow for more extensive effects to be added to thetransmitted video. In addition, certain disclosed techniques allowsecurity and maintenance operations associated with interactiveapplications such as game programs to be performed at the distributor,further reducing complexity of the application.

1. Configuration of Video Distribution System

Examples of video distribution systems disclosed in the presentapplication enable a user who performs video distribution over acomputer network (hereinafter referred to as “distributor”) to transmit(or “distribute”), by using a terminal device of the distributor, afirst video including an animation of a first avatar generated on thebasis of motion data generated by motion capture of video or other imagedata captured of the distributor and a second video related to acomputer-implemented game generated on the basis of operation datarelated to the operation of the distributor to a terminal device of auser who views the videos (hereinafter referred to as “viewer”) via acomputer network communication line. Transmission via the communicationline can include wired and/or wireless forms of signal transmission. Inother examples, only the motion data, or both at least a portion of themotion data and the video are transmitted. In such cases, the receiverof the video can generate or modify the video using received motiondata.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of thevideo distribution system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the video distribution system 1 can include a plurality of terminaldevices 10 connected to a communication line (not shown), and one ormore server devices 20 connected to a communication line. Each terminaldevice 10 is connected to one or more server devices 20 via acommunication line (not shown).

1-1. Terminal Device 10

The plurality of terminal devices 10 can include one or more distributorterminal devices 10 (here, a terminal device 10A) and one or more viewerterminal devices 10 of a viewer (here, a terminal device 10B to aterminal device 10D). Each terminal device 10 can have a commonconfiguration and thus may include a terminal device (distributorterminal device 10) for distributing a video and/or a terminal device(viewer terminal device 10) for viewing a video.

When operating as a terminal device (distributor terminal device) fordistributing a video, each terminal device 10 can execute an installedvideo distribution application. This allows each terminal device 10 toacquire motion data related to the motion of the distributor andtransmit, to the server device 20 (distribution server system 20A) via acommunication line, a first video including an animation of a virtualcharacter (first avatar) changed according to the acquired data. Forexample, the motion data can be acquired using a motion capture system.As will be readily understood to one of ordinary skill in the art havingthe benefit of the present disclosure, examples of suitable motioncapture systems that can be used with disclosed apparatus and methodsinclude optical motion capture systems, including such systems usingpassive markers, active markers, or markerless systems and non-opticalsystems, including inertial and magnetic systems. Motion data can becaptured with image capture devices (such as a CCD (charge-coupleddevice) or CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensor)coupled to a computer that transforms the motion data into video orother image data. First video data generated using the motion capturesystem is distributed by the server device 20 (distribution serversystem 20A) via a communication line to a terminal device (viewerterminal device) 10 for receiving a video which executes an installedvideo viewing application. In this specification, the video distributionapplication installed in each terminal device 10 may be middleware or acombination of an application and middleware. Similarly, the videoviewing application installed in each terminal device 10 may bemiddleware or a combination of an application and middleware.

When operating as a distributor terminal device, each terminal device 10can execute a browser function incorporated in the installed videodistribution application and/or execute an installed web browserapplication. This allows each terminal device 10 to receive a web page(for example, an HTML document, including in some examples, HTMLdocuments encoding executable code such as JavaScript or PHP code) fromthe server device 20 (web server device 20B) and execute acomputer-implemented game program included in this web page. Byexecuting the game program, each terminal device 10 can generate asecond video in which at least one game object is caused to act on thebasis of operation data related to the operation of the distributor.This game object can include a game object including a virtual character(second avatar) of the distributor acting on the basis of the operationdata.

When operating as a distributor terminal device, each terminal device 10can transmit, by executing the video distribution application, thesecond video thus generated to the server device 20 (distribution serversystem 20A) via the communication line. Such the second video is alsodistributed by the server device 20 (distribution server system 20A) viaa communication line to a terminal device (viewer terminal device) 10for receiving a video which executes an installed video viewingapplication.

Furthermore, when operating as a distributor terminal device, eachterminal device 10 can execute the video distribution application. Thisallows each terminal device 10 to receive via the communication linefrom the terminal device 10 of the viewer who views the second video(distributed by the distributor terminal device 10) via the serverdevice 20 (distribution server system 20A), a token to the distributorand/or comment data indicative of transmitting a comment to thedistributor. For example, the token can encode data indicative of avirtual token transmitted to the distributor.

On the other hand, when operating as a terminal device (viewer terminaldevice) for viewing a video, each terminal device 10 can execute aninstalled video viewing application. This allows each terminal device 10to receive, via the server device 20 (distribution server system 20A),the first video and/or the second video distributed by the distributorterminal device 10.

Furthermore, when operating as a viewer terminal device, each terminaldevice 10 can execute the video viewing application. This allows eachterminal device 10 to transmit tokens to the distributor and/or commentdata indicative of transmitting a comment to the distributor to thedistributor terminal device via the server device 20 (distributionserver system).

Additionally, the above-described video distribution application andvideo viewing application can be installed and executed in each terminaldevice 10 as one integrated application or as separate applications.

Each terminal device 10 can be any terminal device capable of executingsuch an operation. For example, each terminal device 10 can include atleast one of: a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile phone (feature phone), ora personal computer, without being limited thereto.

1-2. Server Device 20

FIG. 1 shows a distribution server system 20A and a web server device20B as an example of one or more server devices 20.

The distribution server system 20A can distribute the first video and/orthe second video transmitted by each terminal device (each distributorterminal device) 10 to each terminal device (each viewer terminaldevice) 10. Furthermore, the distribution server system 20A cantransmit, to the terminal device 10 of a certain distributor, tokensand/or comment data to the distributor that have been transmitted byeach terminal device (each viewer terminal device) 10.

In order to execute such operation, the distribution server system 20A,in one embodiment, can include a distribution server device 20 a, adatabase (DB) server device 20 b, and a game API server device 20 c thatare interconnected via a communication line (including a wireless lineand/or a wired line that are not shown).

The distribution server device 20 a can distribute, to each terminaldevice 10, the first video and/or the second video transmitted by theterminal device 10 of each distributor. Furthermore, the distributionserver device 20 a can store, into the DB server device 20 b, token dataand/or comment data transmitted by the terminal device 10 of eachviewer.

The DB server device 20 b can store token data or comment data receivedfrom the distribution server device 20 a, read token data and/or commentdata inquired by the game API server device 20 c, and transmit them tothe game API server device 20 c.

When receiving an inquiry about token data and/or comment data from theterminal device 10 of each distributor, the game API server device 20 ccan read, from the DB server device 20 b, token data and/or comment datafor the terminal device 10 of the distributor, and transmit them to theterminal device 10 of the distributor.

The example shown in FIG. 1 outlines a configuration in which thedistribution server system 20A has three server devices including thedistribution server device 20 a, the DB server device 20 b, and the gameAPI server device 20 c for the purpose of balancing the load. However,at least one of the three server devices can be integrated with any ofthe remaining server devices.

Next, the web server device 20B can transmit, to the terminal device 10of each distributor having accessed, a web page (document createdaccording to HTML, for example, HTML5) in which a game program isincorporated. By being executed by the terminal device 10 havingreceived and decoded this game program, the game program can cause theterminal device 10 to execute at least one of various operations relatedto distribution of a video as exemplified below:

Operation of executing the game;

Operation of transmitting, to the distribution server system 20A(distribution server device 20 a), a game screen generated in accordancewith execution of the game; and/or

Operation of acquiring token data and/or comment data transmitted tothis distributor from the distribution server system 20A (game APIserver device 20c).

1-3. Communication Line

The communication line (not shown) can include a mobile telephonenetwork, a wireless network (e.g., RF connections via Bluetooth, WiFi(such as IEEE 802.11a/b/n), WiMax, cellular, satellite, laser,infrared), a fixed telephone network, the Internet, an intranet, a localarea network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), and/or an Ethernetnetwork, without being limited thereto. In a virtual host environment,the communication line(s) can be a virtualized network connectionprovided by the virtual host.

2. Hardware Configuration of Each Device

Next, an example of the hardware configuration of each of the terminaldevice 10 and the server device 20 will be described.

2-1. Hardware Configuration of Terminal Device 10

An example of the hardware configuration of each terminal device 10 willbe described with reference to FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a block diagramschematically showing an example of the hardware configuration of theterminal device 10 (server device 20) shown in FIG. 1 . (In FIG. 2 ,reference numerals in parentheses refer to the server device 20 asdescribed later.)

As shown in FIG. 2 , each terminal device 10 can mainly include aprocessor, for example, a central processing unit 11, a main storagedevice 12, an input/output interface device 13, an input device 14, anauxiliary storage device 15, and an output device 16. These devices areinterconnected via a data bus and/or a control bus. The processor may bea real or virtual processor.

The central processing unit 11, which is referred to as a “CPU,” canperform operations on instructions and data stored in the main storagedevice 12, and store the results of the operations in the main storagedevice 12. Furthermore, the central processing unit 11 can control andreceive data from the input device 14, the auxiliary storage device 15,the output device 16, and the like via the input/output interface device13. The terminal device 10 can include one or more such centralprocessing units 11.

The main storage device 12, which is referred to as a “memory”, canstore instructions and data received from the input device 14, theauxiliary storage device 15, and a communication line 30 (server device20 or the like) via the input/output interface device 13, as well ascalculation results of the central processing unit 11. The main storagedevice 12 can include computer-readable media such as volatile memory(e.g., registers, cache, random access memory (RAM)), non-volatilememory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), EEPROM, flash memory) and storage(e.g., a hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), magnetic tape,optical media), without being limited thereto. As should be readilyunderstood, the term computer-readable storage media includes the mediafor data storage such as memory and storage, and not transmission mediasuch as modulated data signals or transitory signals.

The auxiliary storage device 15 is a storage device typically having acapacity larger than that of the main storage device 12. It is possibleto store instructions and data (computer programs) constituting theabove-described specific applications (video distribution application,video viewing application, and the like), web browser applications, andthe like. By being controlled by the central processing unit 11, theauxiliary storage device 15 can transmit these instructions and data(computer programs) to the main storage device 12 via the input/outputinterface device 13. The auxiliary storage device 15 can include amagnetic disk device and/or an optical disk device, without beinglimited thereto.

The input device 14 is a device that takes in data from the outside. Theinput device 14 includes a touch screen, a button, a keyboard, a mouse,and/or a sensor, without being limited thereto. As described later, thesensor can include a sensor including one or more cameras and/or one ormore microphones, without being limited thereto. Sensor data can beprovided to a motion capture system for use in generating video.

The output device 16 can include a display device, a touch screen,and/or a printer device, without being limited thereto.

In such a hardware configuration, the central processing unit 11 canload, into the main storage device 12, instructions and data (computerprograms) constituting a specific application stored in the auxiliarystorage device 15, and perform operations with the loaded instructionsand data. This allows the central processing unit 11 to control theoutput device 16 via the input/output interface device 13, or totransmit and receive various data to and from other devices (e.g., theserver device 20 and another terminal device 10) via the input/outputinterface device 13 and the communication line 30.

This allows the terminal device 10 to execute at least one of variousoperations described below (various operations described in detaillater) by executing computer-executable instructions for the installedspecific application:

-   -   Operation necessary for distributing the first video and/or the        second video;    -   Operation necessary for receiving token data and/or comment data        transmitted from another terminal device 10 to the own terminal        device 10;    -   Operation necessary for receiving the first video and/or the        second video distributed by another terminal device 10; or    -   Operation necessary for transmitting token data and/or comment        data to another terminal device 10, etc.

Additionally, the terminal device 10 can include one or moremicroprocessors and/or one or more graphics processing units (GPU) inplace of or in addition to the central processing unit 11.

2-2. Hardware Configuration of Server Device 20

An example of the hardware configuration of each server device 20 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 2 similarly. As the hardwareconfiguration of each server device 20 (distribution server device 20 a,DB server device 20 b, game API server device 20 c, and web serverdevice 20B), the identical hardware configuration to that of eachterminal device 10 described above can be used, for example. Therefore,reference numerals for the components of each server device 20 are shownin parentheses in FIG. 2 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , each server device 20 can mainly include a centralprocessing unit 21, a main storage device 22, an input/output interfacedevice 23, an input device 24, an auxiliary storage device 25, and anoutput device 26. These devices are interconnected via a data bus and/ora control bus.

The central processing unit 21, the main storage device 22, theinput/output interface device 23, the input device 24, the auxiliarystorage device 25, and the output device 26 may be substantiallyidentical to the central processing unit 11, the main storage device 12,the input/output interface device 13, the input device 14, the auxiliarystorage device 15, and the output device 16, respectively, included ineach terminal device 10 described above.

In such a hardware configuration, the central processing unit 21 cansequentially load, into the main storage device 22, instructions anddata (computer programs) constituting a specific application stored inthe auxiliary storage device 25, and calculate the loaded instructionsand data. This allows the central processing unit 21 to control theoutput device 26 via the input/output interface device 23, or totransmit and receive various data to and from other devices (e.g., eachterminal device 10) via the input/output interface device 23 and thecommunication line 30.

This allows the server device 20 to execute an operation necessary fordistributing, to the terminal device 10 of each viewer, the first videoand/or the second video transmitted by the terminal device 10 of eachdistributor, an operation necessary for transmitting, to the terminaldevice 10 of a certain distributor, token data and/or comment datatransmitted by the terminal device 10 of each viewer to the terminaldevice 10 of the distributor, and the like (including various operationsdescribed in detail later).

Additionally, the server device 20 can include one or moremicroprocessors and/or one or more graphics processing units (GPU) inplace of or in addition to the central processing unit 21.

3. Functions of Each Device

Next, an example of functions of each of the terminal device 10 and theserver device 20 will be described.

3-1. Functions of Terminal Device 10

An example of the function of the terminal device 10 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 3 . FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematicallyshowing an example of a function of the terminal device 10 shown in FIG.1 .

As shown in FIG. 3 , the terminal device 10 can mainly include a firstvideo generation unit 100, a second video generation unit 110, acommunication unit 120, a display unit 130, a storage unit 140, a userinterface unit 150, and a token processing unit 160.

(1) First Video Generation Unit 100

The first video generation unit 100 can generate the first videoincluding an animation of a first avatar of a distributor on the basisof motion data related to the motion of the distributor. In order torealize this, the first video generation unit 100 can include anacquisition unit 102 and a processing unit 104, for example.

The acquisition unit 102 can include one or more first sensors 102 athat acquire data related to the face of the distributor, and one ormore second sensors 102 b that acquire voice data related to speechand/or vocal given by the distributor.

In a preferred embodiment, the first sensor 102 a can include an RGBcamera 102 c that captures visible light and a near infrared camera thatcaptures near infrared rays. As such a camera, it is possible to use acamera included in a True Depth camera of iPhone X, for example. Thesecond sensor 102 b can include a microphone 102 d to record voice andother audio.

First, regarding the first sensor 102 a, the acquisition unit 102captures an image of the face of the distributor using the first sensor102 a arranged close to the face of the distributor. This allows theacquisition unit 102 to generate data in which an image acquired by theRGB camera is recorded over a unit time in association with a time code(code indicative of the time of acquisition). The data described abovecan be an MPEG file, for example.

Furthermore, the acquisition unit 102 can generate data in which apredetermined number (e.g., 51) of numerical values (e.g.,floating-point numerical values) indicative of the depth acquired by thenear infrared camera are recorded over a unit time in association withthe time code. The data described above can be, for example, a TSV file,which is a file in which a plurality of data are recorded by separatingthe data with tabs.

Regarding the near infrared camera, more specifically, a dot projectoremits an infrared laser including a dot (point) pattern to the face ofthe performer, and the near infrared camera captures infrared dotsprojected and reflected on the face of the performer, thereby generatingan image of the infrared dots captured in this manner. The acquisitionunit 102 can compare an image of the dot pattern emitted by the dotprojector registered in advance with an image captured by the nearinfrared camera. This allows the acquisition unit 102 to calculate thedepth of each point (each feature point) by using positional deviationat each point (each feature point) in both images. Here, the points caninclude 51 points, for example. The depth of each point indicates thedistance between each point and the near infrared camera. Theacquisition unit 102 can generate data in which a numerical valueindicative of the thus calculated depth is recorded over a unit time inassociation with the time code as described above.

Next, regarding the second sensor 102 b, the acquisition unit 102acquires the voice related to the speech and/or vocal given by thedistributor using the second sensor 102 b arranged close to thedistributor. This allows the acquisition unit 102 to generate datarecorded over a unit time in association with the time code. The datadescribed above can be an MPEG file, for example. In an embodiment, theacquisition unit 102 can acquire data related to the face of thedistributor using the first sensor 102 a, and at the same time, acquirevoice data related to speech and/or vocal given by the distributor usingthe second sensor 102 b. In this case, the acquisition unit 102 cangenerate data (e.g., MPEG file) in which an image acquired by the RGBcamera and voice data related to speech and/or vocal given by thedistributor using the second sensor 102 b are recorded over a unit timein association with an identical time code.

The acquisition unit 102 can output, to the processing unit 104, thethus generated data (MPEG file, TSV file, and the like) related to theface of the distributor and/or the voice data (MPEG file and the like)related to the speech and/or vocal given by the distributor.

Here, the case where the first sensor 102 a includes an RGB camera andan infrared camera has been described. However, the first sensor 102 acan include any of the following (A) to (C), for example.

-   -   (A) A camera that detects infrared rays emitted by an infrared        laser and reflected on the face of the performer;    -   (B) A plurality of RGB cameras that capture visible light; or    -   (C) A single camera that captures visible light.

In the case of (A), the acquisition unit 102 can calculate the depth ofeach feature point on the face of the distributor by the same techniqueas that described above. In the case of (B), the acquisition unit 102can calculate the depth of each feature point on the face of thedistributor using a plurality of images captured by the plurality of RGBcameras. In the case of (C), the acquisition unit 102 can calculate, byusing deep learning or the like, the depth of each feature point on theface of the distributor from the image captured by the single camera.Furthermore, in the case of (C), the acquisition unit 102 can calculatethe depth of each feature point on the face of the performer by analysisprocessing (image processing and the like) for the image captured by thesingle camera.

On the basis of the data related to the face of the distributor from theacquisition unit 102, the processing unit 104 can generate a videoincluding an animation of a virtual character (first avatar of thedistributor). Regarding the video itself of a virtual character, theprocessing unit 104 can generate the video of the virtual character bycausing a rendering unit (not shown) to execute rendering using variousdata stored in a character data storage unit (not shown). The variousdata described above can include, for example, geometry data, bone data,texture data, shader data, and blend shape data.

Furthermore, the processing unit 104 can generate, by using variouswell-known technologies, a video in which the facial expression of thefirst avatar is changed by using the data related to the face of thedistributor from the acquisition unit 102 (data related to the depth ofeach feature point on the face of the performer). The video describedabove can be, for example, a video in which the facial expression of thefirst avatar is changed in synchronization with the movement of themouth and both eyes of the performer, e.g., a video in which the facialexpression of the first avatar is changed by lip sync and gaze trackingof the face of the performer.

Additionally, any other suitable technology can be used in order togenerate the first video including an animation of the first avatar ofthe distributor on the basis of motion data related to the action of thedistributor. An example of such technology includes a technique referredto as “blend shapes” described in a website identified by the followingURL.

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/arkit/arfaceanchor/2928251-blendshapes

When this technology is used, the processing unit 104 can adjustparameters of one or more feature points corresponding to the action ofthe distributor among a plurality of feature points on the upper body(face and so on) of the distributor. This allows the processing unit 104to generate a video of a virtual character that follows the action ofthe distributor.

(2) Second Video Generation Unit 110

The second video generation unit 110 can generate the second videorelated to the computer-implemented game on the basis of operation datarelated to the operation of the distributor by using the web pagereceived from the web server device 20B.

Specifically, the second video generation unit 110 can execute a gameprogram incorporated in the web page received from the web server device20B. This allows the second video generation unit 110 to draw the secondvideo (game video) related to the game in which the game object (owngame object) including the second avatar of the distributor acts, on thebasis of the operation data indicative of the operation of thedistributor having been input by the user interface unit 150. Forexample, the operation data can include one or more of the following:data indicative of how the distributor has swiped a touch pad display,data indicative of which object the distributer has tapped or clicked,or data indicative of how the distributor has dragged a touch paddisplay, or other such operation data. In the second video, for example,various game objects including an enemy character attacking the own gameobject and a wingman character supporting the own game object actaccording to the game program.

(3) Communication Unit 120

The communication unit 120 can communicate various data required fordistribution and/or viewing of a video between the distribution serversystem 20A and the web server device 20B. For example, the communicationunit 120 can access the web server device 20B and receive a web page(HTML document) including a game program required for execution of thegame. When the terminal device 10 operates as the terminal device of thedistributor, the communication unit 120 can transmit the first videoand/or the second video to the distribution server system 20A, andreceive, from the distribution server system 20A, token data and/orcomment data transmitted to the distributor. Furthermore, when theterminal device 10 operates as the terminal device of the viewer, thecommunication unit 120 can receive, from the distribution server system20A, the first video and/or the second video transmitted by the terminaldevice 10 of the distributor, and transmit token data and/or commentdata for the distributor to the distribution server system 20A.

(4) Display Unit 130

The display unit 130 can display various images for distribution and/orviewing of the video. For example, the display unit 130 can display thefirst video and/or the second video to be distributed and/or the firstvideo and/or the second video having been received.

(5) Storage Unit 140

The storage unit 140 can store various data used for distribution and/orviewing of the video.

(6) User Interface Unit 150

The user interface unit 150 can input various data required fordistribution and/or viewing of the video through a user manipulation.For example, when the computer-implemented game is executed, the userinterface unit 150 can input operation data indicative of the contentsof the manipulation of the distributor from the distributor and outputthe operation data to the second video generation unit 110.

(7) Token Processing Unit 160

The token processing unit 160 can process token data transmitted andreceived in relation to distribution and/or viewing of the video. Forexample, when the terminal device 10 operates as the terminal device 10of the distributor, the token processing unit 160 can process the tokendata transmitted to the distributor. When the terminal device 10operates as the terminal device 10 of the viewer, the token processingunit 160 can process the token data transmitted by the viewer.

3-2. Functions of Server Device 20

An example of the function of the server device 20 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 4 . FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematicallyshowing an example of a function of the server device 20 shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the server device 20 can mainly include acommunication unit 200, a storage unit 210, and a token processing unit220.

The communication unit 200 can communicate various data used fordistribution and/or viewing of a video between the terminal device 10 ofthe distributor and/or the terminal device 10 of the viewer. Forexample, when operating as the distribution server system 20A, theserver device 20 can receive the first video and/or the second videofrom the terminal device 10 of each distributor and distribute the firstvideo and/or the second video to the terminal device 10 of each viewer.When operating as the web server device 20B, the server device 20 cantransmit, to the terminal device 10 of each distributor having accessed,a web page in which a computer-implemented game program is incorporated.

The storage unit 210 can store various data used for distribution and/orviewing of the video.

The token processing unit 220 can process the token data transmittedfrom each viewer to each distributor.

Additionally, when the server device 20 operates as the web serverdevice 20B, the token processing unit 220 may be omitted.

4. Overall Operation of Video Distribution System 1

Next, the overall operation performed in the video distribution system 1having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.5A and 5B. FIGS. 5A and 5B are flow diagrams showing an example of theoperation performed in the video distribution system 1 shown in FIG. 1 .

First, referring to FIG. 5A, in step (hereinafter referred to as “ST”)302, his/her terminal device 10 (here, terminal device 10A) starts andexecutes the video distribution application, following the operation ofthe distributor (here, distributor A).

Next, in ST304, the terminal device 10A generates the first videoincluding the animation of the first avatar of the distributor A on thebasis of the motion data related to the motion of the distributor A. Dueto this, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , the display unit 130 of the terminaldevice 10A displays a first video 404 including the animation of a firstavatar 402 of the distributor A.

Returning to FIG. 5A, the terminal device 10A transmits the generatedfirst video 404 to the distribution server device 20 a of thedistribution server system 20A. The distribution server device 20 adistributes the first video received from the terminal device 10A to theterminal device 10 of each viewer executing the video viewingapplication. Due to this, the display unit 130 of the terminal device 10of each viewer also displays the first video 404 as illustrated in FIG.6 .

Next, in ST306, when the distributor A taps an icon 406 called “Game”(see FIG. 6 ) displayed on the display unit 130 of the terminal device10A, the terminal device 10A executes a browser function implemented inthe video distribution application. Due to this, in ST308, the terminaldevice 10A can receive an HTMLS document in which the game program isincorporated, by accessing the web server device 20B in a state wherethe video distribution application is executed (e.g., the first video404 is distributed toward the terminal device 10 of each viewer).

Next, in ST310, the terminal device 10A can generate a video (secondvideo) related to the game by executing the game program incorporated inthe received HTML5 document.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an example of the second videodisplayed on the display unit of the terminal device 10A shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 7 , in a second video 500, an own game object504 including a second avatar 502 of the distributor A can act on thebasis of operation data related to the operation performed for the userinterface unit 150 of the distributor A. This allows the own game object504, for example, to act according to the operation of the distributor Aand striking with a ball as a game object 506A to drop the game object506A into a pocket 508A.

The second avatar 502 of the distributor A can be generated using thefirst avatar 402 of the first distributor A. For example, the secondavatar 502 may be completely or substantially identical to the firstavatar 402, may be a modification, reduction, and/or enlargement of atleast a part of the first avatar 402, or may be a part of the firstavatar 402.

In the second video 500, comment data transmitted from at least oneviewer to the distributor A may be displayed on a part of area (chatarea) (for example, in an upper area 510 as illustrated in FIG. 7 ). Thecomment data can include optional comment data such as a comment 512indicating that a viewer X supports the distributor A and a comment 514indicating that a viewer Y has given a token G1 to the distributor A.

Returning to FIG. 5A, in ST312, the terminal device 10A transmits thesecond video (game screen) 500 generated in ST310 to the distributionserver device 20 a of the distribution server system 20A (note thatwhile the second video 500 is being transmitted to the distributionserver device 20 a of the distribution server system 20A, the terminaldevice 10A may stop transmitting the first video 404 or may transmit thefirst video 404). The distribution server device 20 a distributes thesecond video received from the terminal device 10A to the terminaldevice 10 of each viewer executing the video viewing application (notethat when receiving not only the second video 500 but also the firstvideo 404 from the terminal device 10A, the distribution server device20 a may transmit only the second video 500 or both the second video 500and the first video 404 to the terminal device 10 of each viewer). Thisalso allows the display unit 130 of the terminal device 10 of eachviewer to display the second video 500 as illustrated in FIG. 7 (forexample, in a state of covering the first video 404 as illustrated inFIG. 6 with most of the first video 404 hidden).

Next, in ST314, a case where a viewer (viewer B) viewing the secondvideo 500 transmitted by the terminal device 10A gives a token G2 to thedistributor A will be considered. The viewer B can operate his/herterminal device 10B to select a token B from a plurality of preparedtokens and select a command to be given to the distributor A. Thus, theterminal device 10B transmits, to the distribution server device 20 a ofthe distribution server system 20A, token data indicative of providingthe token G2 to the distributor A. The token data can include, forexample, receiver identification data to identify a receiver of thetoken (distributor A), token identification data to identify the token,and transmitter identification data to identify a transmitter of thetoken (viewer B).

When providing a token by operating his/her terminal device 10B, theviewer B can also transmit a comment together with the token. In thiscase, the token data transmitted by the terminal device 10B to thedistribution server device 20 a can include comment data in addition tothe receiver identification data, the token identification data, and thetransmitter identification data.

In ST316, the distribution server device 20 a can store the token datareceived from the terminal device 10B in the DB server device 20b. Forexample, the DB server device 20 b can store, as token data, piece countidentification data, which is to identify as to what number the tokenwas given, the token identification data, and the transmitteridentification data (moreover, comment data), in association with thereceiver identification data.

In ST318, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A can make aninquiry to the game API server device 20 c whether new token data hasarrived to the distributor A at each predetermined cycle (time interval)while the game is being executed. For example, when having received onepiece of token data (e.g., token data from the viewer Y illustrated inFIG. 7 ) from the game API server device 20 c since the start of playingthe game, the terminal device 10A can make an inquiry to the game APIserver device 20 c as to whether or not the second and subsequent piecesof token data are present.

In ST320, in response to an inquiry from the terminal device 10A, thegame API server device 20 c requests the DB server device 20 b for thesecond and subsequent pieces of token data about the distributor A. Whenhaving successfully retrieved the second and subsequent pieces of piececount identification data as the piece count identification data storedin association with the distributor A (receiver identification data),the DB server device 20 b transmits the token identification data andthe transmitter identification data (moreover, the comment data)corresponding to each of the second and subsequent pieces of piece countidentification data to the game API server device 20 c as the secondpiece of token data. Here, on the assumption of having successfullyretrieved only the second piece of the piece count identification data,the DB server device 20 b transmits the token identification data andthe transmitter identification data (moreover, the comment data)corresponding to the second piece of piece count identification data tothe game API server device 20 c as the second piece of token data. Inresponse to this, the game API server device 20 c transmits the secondpiece of token data to the terminal device 10A of the distributor A.

Next, referring to FIG. 5B, in ST322, the terminal device 10A havingreceived the second piece of token data can execute the game on thebasis of the second piece of token data. The terminal device 10A candisplay, on the game screen (second video), a game object having beenset on the basis of the transmitter (here, viewer B) identified by thetransmitter identification data included in the token data and/or atoken (here, token G2) uniquely identified by the token identificationdata included in the token data. For example, the terminal device 10Acan display, on the second video, a game object corresponding to thetoken G2 (for example, either one of the game objects 520A to 520F), asshown in FIG. 9 . The terminal device 10A can also display, on thesecond video, a game object (enemy character and/or friend character)including the avatar of the viewer B, or can display, on the secondvideo, an own game object (game object including the second avatar ofthe distributor A) whose hit point has increased on the basis of thetoken G2, although this is not shown in FIG. 9 . Each terminal device 10can store the avatar (image) of the user (viewer) in association witheach piece of transmitter identification data, and can store the token(image) or the like in association with each piece of tokenidentification data. This allows each terminal device 10 to generate anddisplay the second video including the avatar of each viewer and/or eachtoken. A specific technique of generating the second video on the basisof the token data will be described later in Section 5.

The terminal device 10A can also display the comment data included inthe token data on the game screen (second video). For example, asillustrated in FIG. 7 , when the viewer B selects in ST314 transmittinga comment when providing the token G2 to the distributor A, the terminaldevice 10A can display the comment data 516 of “Here, token G2.” on thesecond video 500. In this way, the viewer's comment displayed on thesecond video 500 can correspond to the token data transmitted from theviewer to the distributor.

The terminal device 10A has received two pieces of token data from thegame API server device 20 c so far (the terminal device 10A identifieshow many pieces of token data have been received so far during theexecution of the game), and hence the terminal device 10A can make aninquiry to the game API server device 20 c as to whether or not thethird and subsequent pieces of token data are present in the next cycle(time interval).

Next, returning to FIG. 5B, the terminal device 10A distributes in ST324the second video 500 including the game object having been set on thebasis of the token data in this manner to the terminal device 10 of eachviewer via the distribution server system 20A in the same technique asin ST312.

Next, in ST326, in the case of continuing the game, the terminal device10A can repeat the processing in and after ST308 described above. On theother hand, when the terminal device 10A does not continue the game, theprocess ends.

5. Generation of Second Video (Game Screen) Based on Token Data

Next, a specific example of a technique for generating the second videoon the basis of the token data mentioned in relation to ST308 to ST324described above will be described.

5-1. First Example

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an example of the second videodisplayed on the display unit of the terminal device 10A when the firstunit section of the game is being executed by the terminal device 10Ashown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an example of thesecond video displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 10A atthe time point when the first unit section of the game is ended by theterminal device 10A shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 9 is a schematic view showingan example of the second video displayed on the display unit of theterminal device 10A when the first time section of the game is beingexecuted by the terminal device 10A shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 10 is a flowdiagram showing a specific example of the operation performed in thevideo distribution system 1 shown in FIG. 1 .

The unit section is a collection of activities in the game. For example,the unit section can include at least one action, at least one scene, atleast one scenario, at least one stage, at least one area, at least oneround, at least one phase, at least one level/map/act/world, at leastone game, and a combination of these.

A time section is a period of time in the game, which can occur betweena unit section and a next unit section. For example, the time sectioncan be a fixed period of time during which an activity is to becompleted.

In the game described here, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , the distributor Amoves upward the own game object 504 including the second avatar 502,thereby striking the own game object 504 with a ball (a ball 506A and aball 506B are illustrated as examples in FIG. 7 ), which is one of thegame objects, and dropping the ball into a pocket (a pocket 508A and apocket 508B are illustrated as examples in FIG. 7 ), which is one of thegame objects.

Each time the distributor A moves the own game object 504 once, the hitpoint (physical strength) indicated in a gauge 518 labeled “Life”decreases by one. This hit point also corresponds to the number of times(number of operations and number of moves) in which the distributor Acan operate or move the own game object 504. When the hit pointindicated in the gauge 518 becomes 0, the game is over. Such a hit pointincreases by one when the distributor A successfully drops one ball(506A or 506B) into the pocket (508A or 508B).

The game is also over when the own game object 504 drops into the pocket(508A or 508B).

First, in ST1000 shown in FIG. 10 , the terminal device 10 A of thedistributor A executes the first unit section of the game. Additionally,the execution of the first unit section may be started when thedistributor A executes at least one operation (e.g., an operation ofclicking the start button and/or an operation of touching the own gameobject 504) via the user interface unit 150. When the first unit sectionis executed, the distributor A can move the own game object 504 of thedistributor A only once, for example, via the user interface unit 150 ofthe terminal device 10A. Specifically, for example, the distributor Acan adjust a direction D₂ of the force acting on the own game object504, by shifting his/her finger in a desired direction D₁ with thefinger being put on the own game object 504 on an unillustrated touchscreen (swipe operation) (The direction D₂ of the force is expressed bythe direction in which an arrow 501 is oriented. Additionally, thedirection D₁ and the direction D₂ have a relationship of being differentfrom each other by 180 degrees.). In this state, the further thedistributor moves his/her finger downward (or upward), the more he/shecan increase (or decrease) the magnitude of the force acting on the owngame object 504 (the magnitude of the force is expressed by the lengthof the arrow 501).

When the distributor A releases his/her finger from the touch screen,the own game object 504 is applied with a force having the magnitudeindicated by the arrow 501, and moves in the direction indicated by thearrow 501.

As a result, the own game object 504 can collide with the ball 506A todrop the ball into the pocket 508A, and rolls to an area between thepocket 508A and the pocket 508B and a new pocket 508D as illustrated inFIG. 8 . Since the own game object 504 moves from the positionillustrated in FIG. 7 to the position illustrated in FIG. 8 , the secondvideo 500 can be expressed so that the entire screen scrolls downward.In the example shown in FIG. 8 , the second video 500 can be scrolled sothat the own game object 504 is always displayed substantially in thecenter in the vertical direction.

Returning to FIG. 10 , in ST1002, in parallel with such operation of thedistributor A, e.g., in parallel with execution of the first unitsection by the terminal device 10A, the terminal device 10A can receive,via the distribution server system 20A, token data (by the methoddescribed above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B) from the terminaldevice 10 of each viewer viewing the second video 500. However, the gameobject based on such token data is not displayed in the second video 500(except for a comment 516 illustrated in FIG. 7 ) while the first unitsection is being executed.

Next, the own game object 504 can move to the position illustrated inFIG. 8 and stop at the position, when the distributor A executes aseries of operations (at least one operation) including an operation ofbringing his/her finger into contact with the touch screen, an operationof moving downward the finger thus brought into contact with the touchscreen (including an operation of moving the finger in any direction inorder to adjust the force acting on the own game object 504 and itsdirection), and an operation of releasing the finger from the touchscreen. Thus, at the time point when the own game object 504 stops atthe position illustrated in FIG. 8 , the terminal device 10A ends theexecution of the first unit section in ST1004 shown in FIG. 10 .

Next, in ST1006, the terminal device 10A can display the game objectbased on the token data received during the execution of the first unitsection in the second video 500 in the first time section occurringafter the first unit section. Specifically, as illustrated in, forexample, FIG. 9 , six types of token objects 520A, 520B, 520C, 520D,520E, and 520F, for example, can be displayed in the second video 500 inthe first time section.

In the example shown in FIG. 9 , as the first type of token object 520A,three token objects 520A1, 520A2, and 520A3 having a shape resembling anoutlined star are displayed. As the second type of token object 520B,two token objects 520B1 and 520B2 having a shape resembling a blackenedstar are displayed. As the third type of token object 520C, two tokenobjects 520C1 and 520C2 having a shape resembling an outlined diamondare displayed. As the fourth type of token object 520D, one token object520D1 having a shape resembling an outlined heart is displayed. As thefifth type of token object 520E, one token object 520E1 having a text“Bravo!” is displayed. As the sixth type of token object 520F, two tokenobjects 520F1 and 520F2 having a text “* Fantastic *” are displayed.Additionally, seven or more types of token objects 520 may be displayed.

Such token objects can be displayed in an area between a plurality ofimportant game objects so that the token object does not overlap theplurality of game objects important for the progress of the gamedisplayed in the second video 500. The plurality of important gameobjects includes the ball 506, the pocket 508, and the own game object504 illustrated in FIG. 9 . The important game object is a game objectthat may hinder the progress of the game if displayed over any of thetoken objects. For example, if the ball 506, the pocket 508, and the owngame object 504 are hidden by any of the token objects, the distributorA becomes incapable of recognizing where these game objects aredisplayed in the second video 500, and hence he/she can become difficultto smoothly play the game. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 9 , since in thetechnology disclosed in the present application, the token object isdisplayed in an area between the plurality of important game objects,the plurality of important game objects is clearly displayed withoutbeing hidden by the token object. Hence, the distributor A can play thegame without being hindered from the progress of the game.

Thus, a unique token object (e.g., token identification data foridentifying the token) is assigned to each of the plurality types oftokens used in the video distribution system 1. By using the tokenidentification data (see ST314) included in the token data received fromthe terminal device 10 of each viewer via a distribution server devicesystem 20, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A can specify anappropriate token object to display, from among the token objectsassigned to each of the plurality types of tokens.

Returning to FIG. 10 , in ST1008, the terminal device 10A executes asecond unit section of the game. Additionally, the execution of thesecond unit section may be started when the distributor A executes atleast one operation (e.g., an operation of clicking the start buttonand/or an operation of touching the own game object 504) via the userinterface unit 150. When the second unit section is executed, thedistributor A can move again the own game object 504 only once, forexample, via the user interface unit 150 of the terminal device 10A. Theoperations for the distributor A to be able to execute in order to movethe own game object 504 are as described in ST1000.

In the second unit section, all the token objects displayed in the firsttime section (token objects illustrated in FIG. 9 ) can be displayed asthey are in an embodiment. In an embodiment, when the own game object504 interacts with (e.g., contacts) at least any one of these displayedtoken objects, the distributor A can acquire a score (point) and/or aparameter corresponding to the token object thus interacted. Hence, thedistributor can move the own game object 504 so as to be able tointeract with more token objects and/or while attempting to drop a ball506C into a pocket 508C.

Additionally, in an embodiment, when the own game object 504 interactswith a token object displayed in the second video 500, the distributor Acan acquire a score corresponding to the token object (tokenidentification data). Thus, the distributor A can acquire a higher score(point) by causing the own game object 504 to interact with more tokenobjects.

In another embodiment, when the own game object 504 interacts with atoken object displayed in the second video 500, the own game object 504can acquire a parameter corresponding to the token object (tokenidentification data). This parameter can include the offensive power,the defensive power, the physical power, the mobile power, theequipment, and/or items of the own game object 504. Thus, thedistributor A can acquire a higher score (point) by causing the own gameobject 504 to interact with more token objects.

Furthermore, the values of such scores (points) and/or parameters can beset on the basis of the given token (token identification data).Specifically, for example, in a phase of giving a token to thedistributor A by using his/her terminal device 10C, a viewer C canselect a desired token from among a plurality of prepared tokens. Apoint (token point) corresponding to each of the plurality of tokens isset and displayed on the token. In an embodiment, the token pointcorresponding to a token can be a point based on the purchase price ofthe token (the purchase price itself of the token or a pointproportional to the purchase price of the token). In another embodiment,each viewer can obtain a point (also referred to as “My Point”) eachtime he/she views the second video (may be the first video) distributedby the distributor. Each viewer can select a desired free token fromamong a plurality of prepared free tokens, and acquire the desired freetoken by consuming My Point held by the viewer. Therefore, in this case,the token point corresponding to a token can be a point based on thenumber of My Point consumed in acquiring the token (the number of MyPoints itself consumed in acquiring the token or a point proportional tothe number of My Points).

The terminal device 10A of the distributor A having received the tokendata from the viewer C can read, from the storage unit 140, the tokenpoint corresponding to the token identification data included in thetoken data, and set the score (point) acquired by the distributor Aand/or the parameter described above of the own game object 504 on thebasis of the read token point (so as to be proportional to the tokenpoint, for example).

In ST1010, in parallel with such operation of the distributor A, e.g.,in parallel with execution of the second unit section by the terminaldevice 10A, the terminal device 10A can receive, via the distributionserver system 20A, token data (by the method described above withreference to FIGS. 5A and 5B) from the terminal device 10 of each viewerviewing the second video 500. However, the game object based on suchtoken data is not displayed in the second video 500 (except for thecomment 516 illustrated in FIG. 7 ) while the second unit section isbeing executed.

Next, in ST1012, when the distributor A executes the series ofoperations described above (at least one operation), the own game object504 can move from the position illustrated in FIG. 9 (or FIG. 8 ) to anew position not illustrated and stop at that position. Thus, at thetime point when the own game object 504 stops at the new position, theterminal device 10A ends the execution of the second unit section.

After this, until the game is over, the terminal device 10A can repeatin ST1016 the operation of executing an M-th unit section (where M is anatural number equal to or greater than 3) and displaying, in the secondvideo in the M-th time section, the game object based on the token datareceived during the execution of the M-th unit section.

In this manner, when each viewer viewing the second video 500 transmitsthe token data to the distributor, the game object based on the tokendata is displayed as a game object that can affect the own game object504 in the second video 500 viewed by the distributor and each viewer.This allows each viewer to affect the success or failure of the gameplayed by the distributor by transmitting the token data to thedistributor, and hence the viewer can have a sense of being involved inthe game. Furthermore, by each viewer selecting a token with a highertoken point (price, for example) as a token to give to the distributor,the game object set on the basis of the height of the token pointaffects (have a greater impact on the success or failure of the game)the own game object. This allows each viewer to have a sense of beinginvolved in the game more strongly.

Furthermore, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A cancollectively display game objects based on the token data receivedduring the execution of a unit section in the game in the second video500 in the time section occurring after the unit section, not displayingthem in the second video 500 in the unit section. This allows theterminal device 10A to suppress the situation where the execution of theunit section (e.g., playing of the game by the distributor A) ishindered by the game object based on the received token data.

Specifically, when the distributor A moves the own game object 504 bybringing his/her finger into contact with the touch screen in, forexample, ST1000 (FIG. 7 ) and ST1008 (FIG. 9 ) during the execution ofthe unit section, for example, if the game object based on the tokendata received from each viewer in the unit section is displayed in thesecond video 500 in a real time manner, there is a possibility ofoccurrence of an inconvenience such as that an interaction unintended bythe user occurs between the moved game object based 504 and a gameobject based on suddenly appeared token data, and that at least a partof the important game object is hidden by the game object based on thesuddenly appeared token data being displayed over the important gameobject accompanying scrolling of the screen in particular. However,according to the technology disclosed in the present application, theterminal device 10A of the distributor A can collectively display gameobjects based on the token data received during the execution of a unitsection in the game in the second video 500 in the time sectionoccurring after the unit section, not displaying them in the secondvideo 500 in the unit section. This can suppress the possibility ofoccurrence of such an inconvenience. The display restriction to the gameobject based on such token data is particularly useful in mobile phones,smartphones, and the like in which an important game object and a gameobject (token object) based on token data become highly likely tooverlap due to the small size of the display (low resolution).

Furthermore, in general, in a case where a game program is installed inthe terminal device 10 or in a case where a game program is incorporatedin a video distribution application installed in the terminal device 10,it is necessary to install a new game program or a video distributionapplication incorporating the new game program in the terminal device 10in order to execute the new game. In this case, from the point of viewof the creator of the game program, it is necessary to prepare a gameprogram corresponding to each of a plurality of operating systems, andthus there is a problem of an increase in the man-hour required for thecreation of the game program. On the other hand, from the point of viewof the user, it is necessary to download a new game program and/or toupdate an existing game program in order to obtain a new game, and thusthere is a problem of requiring communication load, communication cost,time, and labor.

On the other hand, according to the technology disclosed in the presentapplication, in order to execute the game, the terminal device 10 of thedistributor calls the browser function incorporated in the videodistribution application, instead of executing the game programinstalled in the terminal device 10, receives a web page (HTML document,particularly HTML5 document) from the web server device 20B by usingthis browser function, and executes the game program incorporated in theweb page. This allows the terminal device 10 of the distributor toeasily execute the new game. Therefore, when providing a new game, thecreator of the game program only has to incorporate the new game programinto the web page (HTML document, particularly HTML5 document)transmitted by the web server device 20B, and it is hence possible toreduce the number of man-hours required for creation of the new gameprogram. Furthermore, since the user does not need to download a newgame program or the like in order to be provided with the new game, itis possible to suppress communication load, communication cost, time,and labor.

5-2. Second Example

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another example of the second videodisplayed on the display unit of the terminal device 10A when the firstunit section of the game is being executed by the terminal device 10Ashown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing still anotherexample of the second video displayed on the display unit of theterminal device 10A when the first unit section of the game is beingexecuted by the terminal device 10A shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 13 is aschematic view showing another example of the second video displayed onthe display unit of the terminal device 10A at the time point when thefirst unit section of the game is ended by the terminal device 10A shownin FIG. 1 . FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing another example of thesecond video displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 10Awhen the first time section of the game is being executed by theterminal device 10A shown in FIG. 1 .

The game to be explained here is one in which the distributor A draws apicture in an area 606 within the time limit displayed in an area 604 inaccordance with a theme displayed in an area 602 as illustrated in FIG.11 .

Also in this example, FIG. 10 used in the first example is referred toin a similar manner. Additionally, the detailed description of thematters common to the first example in the second example will beomitted.

First, in ST1000 shown in FIG. 10 , the terminal device 10 A of thedistributor A executes the first unit section of the game. Additionally,the execution of the first unit section may be started when thedistributor A executes at least one operation (e.g., an operation ofclicking the start button and/or an operation of drawing a picture inthe area 606) via the user interface unit 150. Due to this, asillustrated in FIG. 11 , the terminal device 10A can display the themein the area 602 in a second video 600 and display in the area 604 thetime limit that decreases with the lapse of time. The distributor A candraw a picture in the area 606 as illustrated in FIG. 12 , for example,by bringing his/her finger, a stylus, or the like into contact with thetouch screen or the like and moving it.

Returning to FIG. 10 , in ST1002, in parallel with such operation of thedistributor A, e.g., in parallel with execution of the first unitsection by the terminal device 10A, the terminal device 10A can receive,via the distribution server system 20A, token data (by the methoddescribed above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B) from the terminaldevice 10 of each viewer viewing the second video 500. However, the gameobject based on such token data is not displayed in the second video 500(except for a comment 610 illustrated in an area 608 of FIG. 12 ) whilethe first unit section is being executed. Additionally, the comment 610displayed in the area 608 can be displayed in a similar manner to thatdescribed above in relation to the first example.

Next, in ST1004, when the time limit runs out, the terminal device 10Aends the execution of the first unit section. Next, in ST1006, theterminal device 10A can display the game object based on the token datareceived during the execution of the first unit section, on the secondvideo 600 in the first time section occurring after the first unitsection. Specifically, as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 13 , the twotypes of token objects 520A and 520B, for example, can be displayed inthe second video 600 in the first time section. In the example shown inFIG. 13 , as the first type of token object 520A, the two token objects520A1 and 520A2 having a shape resembling an outlined star aredisplayed. As the second type of token object 520B, the one token object520B1 having a shape resembling a blackened star is displayed.

Furthermore, in an embodiment, the terminal device 10A can display, inthe second video 600 in the first time section, the game object(real-time token object) based on the token data (real-time token data)received during the execution of the first “time section”.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 14 , for example, as for thereal-time token object, the one token object 520C1 having a shaperesembling an outlined diamond is displayed as the third type of tokenobject 520C. Furthermore, as the fourth type of token object 520D, thetwo token objects 520D1 and 520D2 having a shape resembling an outlinedheart are displayed. As the fifth type of token object 520E, one tokenobject 520E1 having a text “Bravo!” is displayed. As the sixth type oftoken object 520F, the one token object 520F1 having a text “* Fantastic*” is displayed. Additionally, seven or more types of token objects 520may be displayed.

Such token objects can be displayed in an area between a plurality ofimportant game objects so that the token object does not overlap theplurality of game objects important for the progress of the gamedisplayed in the second video 600. The plurality of important gameobjects includes the area 602 and the area 606 illustrated in FIGS. 13and 14 .

Returning to FIG. 10 , after this, until the game is over, the terminaldevice 10A can repeat in and after ST1008 the operation of executing anL-th unit section (where L is a natural number equal to or greater than2) and displaying, in the second video in the L-th time section, thegame object based on the token data received while the L-th unit section(and moreover, the L-th “time section”) is being executed.

Additionally, in an embodiment, when the token object is displayed inthe second video 600, the distributor A can acquire a scorecorresponding to the token object (token identification data). Thus, thedistributor A can acquire a higher score (point) by receiving more tokendata from the viewer.

In another embodiment, when the token object is displayed in the secondvideo 600, the distributor A can acquire a parameter corresponding tothe token object (token identification data). The parameter can includethe number of colors that can be expressed in a picture drawn in an area600 and/or time to increase the time limit. Thus, the distributor A canacquire a higher score (point) by receiving more token data from theviewer.

Furthermore, the values of such scores (points) and/or parameters can beset on the basis of the given token (token identification data).Specifically, for example, in a phase of giving a token to thedistributor A by using his/her terminal device 10C, a viewer C canselect a desired token from among a plurality of prepared tokens. Apoint (token point) corresponding to each of the plurality of tokens isset and displayed on the token. In an embodiment, the token pointcorresponding to a token can be the purchase price of the token. Inanother embodiment, each viewer can obtain a point (also referred to asa “my point”) each time he/she views the second video (may be the firstvideo) distributed by the distributor. Each viewer can select a desiredfree token from among a plurality of prepared free tokens, and acquirethe desired free token by consuming My Point held by the viewer.Therefore, in this case, the token point corresponding to a token can bethe number of My Point consumed in acquiring the token.

The terminal device 10A of the distributor A having received the tokendata from the viewer C can read, from the storage unit 140, the tokenpoint corresponding to the token identification data included in thetoken data, and set the score (point) acquired by the distributor Aand/or the parameter described above of the own game object 504 on thebasis of the read token point (so as to be proportional to the tokenpoint, for example).

In this manner, when each viewer viewing the second video 600 transmitsthe token data to the distributor, the game object based on the tokendata is displayed as a game object that can affect the distributor inthe second video 600 viewed by the distributor and each viewer. Thisallows each viewer to affect the success or failure of the game playedby the distributor by transmitting the token data to the distributor,and hence the viewer can have a sense of being involved in the game.Furthermore, by each viewer selecting a token with a higher token point(price, for example) as a token to give to the distributor, the gameobject set on the basis of the height of the token point affects (have agreater impact on the success or failure of the game) the own gameobject. This allows each viewer to have a sense of being involved in thegame more strongly.

Furthermore, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A cancollectively display game objects based on the token data receivedduring the execution of a unit section in the game (and moreover thetime section occurring after this unit section) in the second video 600in the time section occurring after the unit section, not displayingthem in the second video 600 in the unit section. This allows theterminal device 10A to suppress the situation where the execution of theunit section (e.g., playing of the game by the distributor A) ishindered by the game object based on the received token data.

Specifically, when the distributor A draws a picture by bringing his/herfinger into contact with the touch screen in, for example, ST1000 (FIG.12 and the like) during the execution of the unit section, for example,if the game object based on the token data received from each viewer inthe unit section is displayed in the second video 500 (in particular,the area 604 where the time limit is indicated, the area 602 where thetheme is indicated, and the like) in a real time manner, there is apossibility of occurrence of an inconvenience such as that the displayof the game object based on the token data suddenly appeared in the area602 and/or the area 604 causes at least a part of the text indicatingthe theme and/or the text indicating the remaining time to be hidden.However, according to the technology disclosed in the presentapplication, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A cancollectively display game objects based on the token data receivedduring the execution of a unit section in the game in the second video600 in the time section occurring after the unit section, not displayingthem in the second video 600 in the unit section. This can suppress thepossibility of occurrence of such an inconvenience.

5-3. Third Example

In the third example, of the token objects based on the token datareceived from the viewer during the execution of the unit section in thefirst example or the second example, only a selected token object isdisplayed in the time section occurring after this unit section.Although the third example based on the first example is described here,the third example is similarly applicable to the second example.

Additionally, for the sake of simplicity of the explanation, it isassumed that a maximum of, for example, eight types of token objects(token objects A to H) are prepared as the plurality types of tokenobjects, and for example, six types of token objects of these eighttypes of token objects are selected and displayed in one time section.Here, a token A is assigned with a token object A unique to the token A,a token B is assigned with a token object B unique to the token B, andsimilarly, tokens C to H are assigned with unique token objects C to H,respectively.

FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing a method of selecting a tokenobject to be displayed in each time section in the video distributionsystem 1 shown in FIG. 1 . As shown in FIG. 15 , in the first unitsection, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A receives 10, 1, 9,1, 8, 1, 0, and 0 tokens A to H, respectively, from the terminal device10 of any viewer (ST1002).

First, for the first unit section, among the token objects A to H, thetop N types (here, three types) of token objects corresponding to thetop N types of (three types) tokens to which the number of given tokenobjects is the largest are selected as first token objects. Here, thetop three types of token objects (the token objects A, C, and E)corresponding to the top three types of tokens (tokens A, C, and E),respectively, to which the number of given token objects is the largestare selected as the first token objects.

Furthermore, for the first unit section, among the token objectsexcluding the first token objects selected as described above, M types(here, three types) of token objects selected in accordance with thepriority are selected as second token objects. The priority isdetermined on the basis of an identification number assigned to each ofthe plurality types of token objects A to H and the fact whether or noteach of the token objects A to H have been selected as the first tokenobject or the second token object in the unit section immediately beforethe first unit section.

In this example, among the token objects excluding the token objects A,C, and E, three types of token objects having smaller identificationnumbers (however, those selected as the first token object or the secondtoken object in the unit section immediately before the first unitsection are excluded) are selected as the second token objects.Specifically, the token objects B, D, and F having smalleridentification numbers are selected as the second token objects.Additionally, the order of the identification numbers A to H isconsidered to be an ascending order (in another embodiment, the order ofthe identification numbers A to H can be considered to be a descendingorder).

As a result, in the first time section occurring after the first unitsection, the terminal device 10A displays the ten token objects A, thenine token objects C, and the eight token objects E as the first tokenobjects and displays the one token object B, the one token object D, andthe one token object F as the second token objects in the second video(ST1006).

Next, in the second unit section, the terminal device 10A of thedistributor A receives 8, 9, 10, 1, 1, 1, 1, and 1 tokens A to H,respectively, from the terminal device 10 of any viewer (ST1010).

First, for the second unit section, among the token objects A to H, thetop N types (here, three types) of token objects corresponding to thetop N types of (three types) tokens to which the number of given tokenobjects is the largest are selected as first token objects. Here, thetop three types of token objects (the token objects A, B, and C)corresponding to the top three types of tokens (tokens A, B, and C),respectively, to which the number of given token objects is the largestare selected as the first token objects.

Furthermore, for the second unit section, of the token objects excludingthe first token objects selected as described above, M types (here,three types) of token objects selected in accordance with the priorityare selected as second token objects.

In this example, among the token objects excluding the token objects A,B, and C, three types of token objects having smaller identificationnumbers (however, those selected as the first token object or the secondtoken object in the first unit section immediately before the secondunit section are excluded) are selected as the second token objects.Specifically, in the first unit section, the token objects D, E, and Fhave already been selected as the first token object or the second tokenobject. Hence, first, the token objects G and H are selected as thesecond token objects. As the remaining one type of the second tokenobject, the token object D, which has the smallest identification numberof the remaining token objects D, E, and F, is selected.

As a result, in the second time section occurring after the second unitsection, the terminal device 10A displays the eight token objects A, thenine token objects B, and the ten token objects C as the first tokenobjects and displays the one token object G, the one token object H, andthe one token object D as the second token objects in the second video(ST1014).

Here, one token E and one token F of the tokens received by the terminaldevice 10A in the second unit section are not displayed in the secondtime section. In an embodiment, a token thus given in the second unitsection, the token corresponding to a non-displayed token object notdisplayed as the first token object or the second token object in thesecond time section, can be carried over as a token given in the thirdunit section occurring after the second unit section.

Next, in the third unit section, the terminal device 10A of thedistributor A receives 1, 1, 1, 10, 1, 1, 0, and 0 tokens A to H,respectively, from the terminal device 10 of any viewer (ST1016).However, as mentioned above, tokens (one token E and one token F) givenin the second unit section, the tokens corresponding to non-displayedtoken objects not displayed in the second time section, are carried overas tokens given in the third unit section. Hence, finally, in the thirdunit section, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A receives 1,1, 1, 10, 2 (one of which was carried over from the second unitsection), 2 (one of which was carried over from the second unitsection), 0, and 0 tokens A to H, respectively, from the terminal device10 of any viewer.

First, for the third unit section, among the token objects A to H, thetop N types (here, three types) of token objects corresponding to thetop N types of (three types) tokens to which the number of given tokenobjects is the largest are selected as first token objects. Here, thetop three types of token objects (the token objects D, E, and F)corresponding to the top three types of tokens (tokens D, E, and F),respectively, to which the number of given token objects is the largestare selected as the first token objects.

Furthermore, for the third unit section, among the token objectsexcluding the first token objects selected as described above, M types(here, three types) of token objects selected in accordance with thepriority are selected as second token objects.

In this example, among the token objects excluding the token objects D,E, and F, three types of token objects having smaller identificationnumbers (however, those selected as the first token object or the secondtoken object in the second unit section immediately before the thirdunit section are excluded) are selected as the second token objects.Specifically, in the second unit section, the token objects A, B, C, G,and H all have already been selected as the first token object or thesecond token object. Hence, of these remaining token objects A, B, C, G,and H, the three types of token objects A, B, and C having the smallestidentification numbers are selected as the second token objects.

As a result, in the third time section occurring after the third unitsection, the terminal device 10A displays the ten token objects D, thetwo token objects E, and the two token objects F as the first tokenobjects and displays the one token object A, the one token object B, andthe one token object C as the second token objects in the second video(ST1016).

In this way, among the token objects based on the token data receivedfrom the viewer during the execution of the unit section, only aselected token object can be displayed in the time section occurringafter this unit section. This causes a large number of token objects tobe displayed in the second video, thereby making it possible to suppressa situation that the board of the game is unnaturally filled with thelarge number of token objects and becomes difficult to see and/or that ahigh load is applied to a CPU 11 of the terminal device 10A of thedistributor A to hinder the progress of the game. Furthermore, it isalso possible to suppress the situation that the identical type of tokenobject is continuously displayed many times.

Furthermore, a token given in a certain unit section, the tokencorresponding to a non-displayed token object not displayed in a timesection occurring immediately after this unit section is carried over asa token given in a next unit section occurring immediately after theabove time section. Thus, the token object corresponding to the tokengiven to the distributor A by each viewer is surely displayed in thesecond video at least as the second token object when time elapses(sometimes displayed as the first token object). Therefore, the act ofgiving a token by each viewer is always rewarded by the fact that thetoken object corresponding to the token is surely displayed in thesecond video.

5-4. Fourth Example

If the terminal device 10A of the distributor A receives a “plurality”of pieces of certain specific type of token data from the terminaldevice 10 of at least one viewer in ST1002 (or ST1010) shown in, forexample, FIG. 10 , the terminal device 10A of the distributor A candisplay the token objects corresponding to the specific type of tokendata in the second video in an embodiment in ST1006 (or ST1014) so asnot to overlap the “plurality” of token objects with one another (e.g.,as illustrated in FIG. 9 , the token objects 520C₁ and 520C₂ can bedisplayed so that they do not overlap with each other in the secondvideo 500). In this case, there is a possibility that as the totalnumber of token objects corresponding to the specific type of token dataincreases, the progress of the game is hindered by displaying a largenumber of the token objects.

Therefore, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A can integratethe plurality of identical token objects in various aspects inaccordance with the total number of the plurality of token objects fordisplay in the second video.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing still another example of the secondvideo displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 10A shown inFIG. 1 . Here, the total number of the plurality of identical tokenobjects is referred to as a “total number of objects” for convenience.

First, as a first aspect, it is possible to use an aspect in which asmany a certain representative token object as the “total number ofobjects” overlaps. As illustrated in FIG. 16 , for example, when threetarget token objects 520C are displayed (the total number of objects is3), the three identical token objects 520C are displayed in an aspect inwhich certain representative token objects 520C′ are overlapped by thetotal number of objects (here, three). While here, as an example, therepresentative token object 520C′ is identical to each token object520C, the representative token object 520C′ may be an object in whichthe token object 520C is deformed (enlarged, reduced, rotated, inverted,excerpted, or the like), or may be one in which the token object 520C isexpressed by text and/or a symbol.

As a second aspect, it is possible to use an aspect in which the tokenobject is expressed by a combination of a certain representative tokenobject and a text indicating the total number of objects. In the exampleshown in FIG. 16 , for example, when 98 token objects 520C are displayed(the total number of objects is 98), the 98 identical token objects 520Care expressed by a combination of a certain representative token object520C′ and text indicating the total number (here, 98) of objects (“98”,“x98”, or the like). While here, as an example, the representative tokenobject 520C′ is identical to each token object 520C, the representativetoken object 520C′ may be an object in which the token object 520C isdeformed (enlarged, reduced, rotated, inverted, excerpted, or the like),or may be one in which the token object 520C is expressed by text and/ora symbol.

As a third aspect, it is possible to use an aspect in which a certainrepresentative token object is expressed by a density corresponding tothe total number of objects. For example, the density of the color givento the representative token object can be set to be high (or low) inproportion to the total number of objects. While also in this aspect,the representative token object described above can be identical to thetarget token object, the representative token object may be one in whichthe target token object is deformed (enlarged, reduced, rotated,inverted, excerpted, or the like), or may be one in which the targettoken object is expressed by text and/or a symbol.

As a fourth aspect, it is possible to use an aspect in which a certainrepresentative token object is expressed by a size corresponding to thetotal number of objects. For example, the size of the representativetoken object can be set to be large in proportion (or to be small ininverse proportion) to the total number of objects. While also in thisaspect, the representative token object described above can be identicalto the target token object, the representative token object may be onein which the target token object is deformed (enlarged, reduced,rotated, inverted, excerpted, or the like).

Additionally, the first aspect to the fourth aspect described above areapplicable in the case of displaying a plurality of identical tokenobjects in the second video, and the identical token objects can includeeach of the token objects 520A, 520B, 520D, 520E, and 520F illustratedin FIG. 9 , without being limited thereto. Furthermore, the first aspectto the fourth aspect described above can be used in combination with oneanother.

Thus, the terminal device 10 of the distributor can integrate theplurality of identical token objects in various aspects in accordancewith the total number of those token objects for display in the secondvideo. This allows the terminal device 10 to at least partially suppressthe situation in which the progress of the game being distributed ishindered while surely showing, on the second video, the fact that theplurality of identical tokens have been given to the distributor (e.g.,the fact that each viewer has given a token to the distributor).

By displaying the plurality of token objects in the aspect in accordancewith the total number of those token objects, it is possible to suppressthe size occupied by the plurality of those token objects in the displayunit and the calculation amount necessary for drawing and processing ofthe plurality of those token objects. In general, the resolution (screensize) of the display unit of the terminal device 10 of the user and thecomputing capability of the terminal device 10 of the user are limited,and are further limited in the order of a personal computer, asmartphone, and a feature phone. Hence, displaying a plurality of tokenobjects in the aspect in accordance with the total number of those tokenobjects is particularly important in the terminal device 10 having suchlimited resolution and computing capability.

6. Variations

The unit section executed by the terminal device 10A of the distributorA can include from a time point when the progress of the game is startedby the distributor A executing at least one operation to a time pointwhen the progress of the game is paused. Such a unit section may beselected from a group including at least one action, at least one scene,at least one scenario, at least one stage, at least onearea/round/phase/level/map/act/world, at least one game, and acombination of these.

The game distributed as the second video may be a shooter game, a sportsgame, a role-playing game, an action game, a simulation game, a socialsimulation game, and/or a puzzle game, as long as it is a game that canrepeat the unit section and the unit time at least once.

The description of the various embodiments described above has presentedthe case where an HTML (particularly HTML5) document in which a gameprogram is incorporated is received from the web server device 20B inorder for the terminal device 10 of the distributor to generate a video(second video) related to the game. However, the terminal device 10 ofthe distributor can generate the second video including a screen relatedto the game by executing the installed video delivery application andreceiving necessary data from a data server device not shown (or anyserver device not shown included in the distribution server system 20A),in place of the configuration in which an HTML document in which a gameprogram is incorporated from the web server device 20B is received fromthe web server device 20B.

In the various embodiments described above, the terminal device 10 ofthe distributor may be a smartphone or the like used by a general user,or may be a dedicated terminal device installed in a studio or the like.In this case, at least one server device of the distribution serverdevice 20 a, the DB server device 20 b, and the game API server device20 c that are included in the distribution server system 20A (as well asthe web server device 20B) may be provided together with the dedicatedterminal device in the studio or the like.

The description of the various embodiments described above has presentedthe case where the terminal device 10 of the distributor generates thefirst video including an animation of the first avatar of thedistributor on the basis of motion data related to the motion of thedistributor and the voice data related to the voice of the distributor,and transmits the first video to the distribution server device 20a.However, the terminal device 10 of the distributor may transmit motiondata related to the motion of the distributor and voice data related tothe voice of the distributor to the distribution server device 20 a, andthe distribution server device 20 a may generate the first video on thebasis of the motion data and the voice data and distribute the firstvideo to the terminal device 10 of each viewer. Alternatively, theterminal device 10 of the distributor may transmit motion data relatedto the action of the distributor and voice data related to the voice ofthe distributor to a separately provided server device, the separateserver device may generate the first video on the basis of the motiondata and the voice data and return the first video to the terminaldevice 10 of the distributor, and the terminal device 10 of thedistributor may transmit the received first video to the distributionserver device 20 a. Furthermore, the terminal device 10 of thedistributor may transmit motion data related to the action of thedistributor and voice data related to the voice of the distributor tothe terminal device 10 of each viewer via the distribution server device20 a or the separately provided server device, and the terminal device10 of each viewer may generate (render) and display the first video onthe basis of the received motion data and voice data.

In any of the above cases, the generation of the first video on thebasis of the motion data and the voice data transmitted by the terminaldevice 10 of the distributor may be shared by at least two of thedistribution server device 20 a, the separate server device, and theterminal device 10 of each viewer. In any case, the device in charge ofgeneration of the first video can receive data (images and the like)related to the avatar to act from, for example, the distribution serverdevice 20 a and store the data.

Furthermore, in any case, the token data and/or the comment datatransmitted by the terminal device 10 of each viewer can be transmittedby a given method to the device in charge of generation of the firstvideo among the distribution server device 20 a, the separate serverdevice, and the terminal device 10 of each viewer. This allows thedevice that generates the first video to execute processing based on thereceived token data (e.g., displaying a token object on a first video)and/or to execute processing based on the received comment data (e.g.,displaying a comment on the first video). In any case, the device incharge of generation of the first video can receive data (images and thelike) corresponding to various tokens to be used from, for example, thedistribution server device 20 a and store the data.

The description of the various embodiments described above has presentedthe case where the comment data is transmitted from the terminal device10 of the viewer to the terminal device 10 of the distributor via thedistribution server system 20A in the form of being incorporated intothe token data. However, the comment data may be transmitted to theterminal device 10 of the distributor separately from the token data. Inthis case, a configuration equivalent to the DB server device 20 b andthe game API server device 20 c described above used for transmission ofthe token data can be separately provided for the purpose oftransmission of the comment data.

In the various embodiments described above, when executing the videodistribution application and communicating with the distribution serversystem 20A to distribute the first video, the terminal device 10A of thedistributor A executes the browser function incorporated in the videodistribution application, whereby the terminal device 10A can execute aprogram included in the web page received from the web server device 20Band distribute the second video to the terminal device 10 of each viewervia the distribution server system 20A. However, such configuration ismerely an example.

For example, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A can alsodistribute the second video without distributing the first video.Specifically, in the first example, by executing the video distributionapplication and executing the browser function incorporated in the videodistribution application, the terminal device 10A of the distributor Acan execute a program included in the web page received from the webserver device 20B (without distributing the first video by using thevideo distribution application), and distribute the second video to theterminal device 10 of each viewer via the distribution server system20A. With this configuration, it is possible for the distributor A notto distribute the first video based on the performance ofhimself/herself but to distribute only the second video showing thestate of the game executed by himself/herself.

In the second example, by executing an installed game application andaccessing the distribution server system 20A, which also functions as agame server device, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A candistribute the screen of the game being executed to the terminal device10 of each viewer via the distribution server system 20A.

In the third example, the terminal device 10A of the distributor A cantransmit operation data of the distributor A to the web server device20B or the distribution server system 20A without generating a gamescreen in the above-mentioned first example or the second example. Inthis case, the web server device 20B or the distribution server system20A can generate a game screen by using the operation data of thedistributor, and the distribution server system 20A can distribute thesecond video including the generated game screen to the terminal device10 of each viewer.

Since the distribution server system 20A holds token data and/or commentdata transmitted from each viewer to the distributor, the second videocan be generated by using token data and/or comment data and theoperation data by a technique similar to that performed by the terminaldevice 10 of the distributor. On the other hand, the web server device20B does not hold token data and/or comment data transmitted from eachviewer to the distributor. Therefore, the web server device 20B canacquire token data and/or comment data held by the distribution serversystem 20A from the distribution server system 20A, and can generate asecond video by using this token data and/or comment data and theoperation data. The web server device 20B can receive token data and/orcomment data from the distribution server system 20A by using theabove-described method performed by the terminal device 10 of thedistributor with the distribution server system 20A.

The method of generating the second video by the web server device 20Bor the distribution server system 20A can be the same as the method ofgenerating the second video described above by the terminal device 10 ofthe distributor.

The various embodiments described above can be used in combination withone another as long as no contradiction or inconvenience occurs.

7. Example Computing Environment

FIG. 17 illustrates a generalized example of a suitable computingenvironment 1400 in which described embodiments, techniques, andtechnologies, including transmitting and using tokens to render video ina computing environment, can be implemented. For example, the computingenvironment 1400 can implement any of the terminal devices (ordistributors or viewers) or the distribution server system, etc., asdescribed herein.

The computing environment 1400 is not intended to suggest any limitationas to scope of use or functionality of the technology, as the technologymay be implemented in diverse general-purpose or special-purposecomputing environments. For example, the disclosed technology may beimplemented with other computer system configurations, includinghand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, and the like. The disclosed technology may also be practicedin distributed computing environments where tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may belocated in both local and remote memory storage devices.

With reference to FIG. 17 , the computing environment 1400 includes atleast one central processing unit 1410 and memory 1420. In FIG. 17 ,this most basic configuration 1430 is included within a dashed line. Thecentral processing unit 1410 executes computer-executable instructionsand may be a real or a virtual processor. In a multi-processing system,multiple processing units execute computer-executable instructions toincrease processing power and as such, multiple processors can berunning simultaneously. The memory 1420 may be volatile memory (e.g.,registers, cache, RAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM, EEPROM, flashmemory, etc.), or some combination of the two. The memory 1420 storessoftware 1480, images, and video that can, for example, implement thetechnologies described herein. A computing environment may haveadditional features. For example, the computing environment 1400includes storage 1440, one or more input devices 1450, one or moreoutput devices 1460, and one or more communication connections 1470. Aninterconnection mechanism (not shown) such as a bus, a controller, or anetwork, interconnects the components of the computing environment 1400.Typically, operating system software (not shown) provides an operatingenvironment for other software executing in the computing environment1400, and coordinates activities of the components of the computingenvironment 1400.

The storage 1440 may be removable or non-removable, and includesmagnetic disks, magnetic tapes or cassettes, CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, DVDs, orany other medium which can be used to store information and that can beaccessed within the computing environment 1400. The storage 1440 storesinstructions for the software 1480, plugin data, and messages, which canbe used to implement technologies described herein.

The input device(s) 1450 may be a touch input device, such as akeyboard, keypad, mouse, touch screen display, pen, or trackball, avoice input device, a scanning device, or another device, that providesinput to the computing environment 1400. For audio, the input device(s)1450 may be a sound card or similar device that accepts audio input inanalog or digital form, or a CD-ROM reader that provides audio samplesto the computing environment 1400. The output device(s) 1460 may be adisplay, printer, speaker, CD-writer, or another device that providesoutput from the computing environment 1400.

The communication connection(s) 1470 enable communication over acommunication medium (e.g., a connecting network) to another computingentity. The communication medium conveys information such ascomputer-executable instructions, compressed graphics information,video, or other data in a modulated data signal. The communicationconnection(s) 1470 are not limited to wired connections (e.g., megabitor gigabit Ethernet, Infiniband, Fibre Channel over electrical or fiberoptic connections) but also include wireless technologies (e.g., RFconnections via Bluetooth, WiFi (IEEE 802.11a/b/n), WiMax, cellular,satellite, laser, infrared) and other suitable communication connectionsfor providing a network connection for the disclosed agents, bridges,and destination agent data consumers. In a virtual host environment, thecommunication(s) connections can be a virtualized network connectionprovided by the virtual host.

Some embodiments of the disclosed methods can be performed usingcomputer-executable instructions implementing all or a portion of thedisclosed technology in a computing cloud 1490. For example, agents canbe executing vulnerability scanning functions in the computingenvironment while agent platform (e.g., bridge) and destination agentdata consumer service can be performed on servers located in thecomputing cloud 1490.

Computer-readable media are any available media that can be accessedwithin a computing environment 1400. By way of example, and notlimitation, with the computing environment 1400, computer-readable mediainclude memory 1420 and/or storage 1440. As should be readilyunderstood, the term computer-readable storage media includes the mediafor data storage such as memory 1420 and storage 1440, and nottransmission media such as modulated data signals.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of thedisclosed subject matter may be applied, it should be recognized thatthe illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples and should notbe taken as limiting the scope of the scope of the claims to thosepreferred examples. Rather, the scope of the claimed subject matter isdefined by the following claims. We therefore claim as our invention allthat comes within the scope of these claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Non-transitory computer-readable storage mediastoring computer-readable instructions, which when executed by acomputer having at least one processor, cause the computer to:distribute, toward a terminal device of a viewer via a communicationline, a first video including an animation of a first avatar of adistributor generated on the basis of motion data or the motion data;distribute, toward the terminal device of the viewer via thecommunication line, a second video showing a computer-implemented gamegenerated on the basis of operation data by using a received web page;receive, from the terminal device of the viewer via the communicationline, token data indicative of a token sent to the distributor from theviewer viewing the second video during execution of one unit section ofthe game; and distribute, toward the terminal device of the viewer viathe communication line, the second video including, during one timesection occurring after the one unit section of the game ends and beforea second unit section of the game begins, a rendering of a token objectselected on the basis of the token data.
 2. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media according to claim 1, wherein the oneunit section includes a period from a first time point at which thedistributor executes at least one operation to start a progress of thegame, to a second time point at which the game pauses.
 3. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage media according to claim 1,wherein the token object does not overlap a game object in the game whenthe token object is displayed in the second video during the one timesection.
 4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media accordingto claim 1, wherein the token object is displayed in a region between agame object and another game object displayed in the second video. 5.The non-transitory computer-readable storage media according to claim 1,wherein the token is one of a plurality types of tokens, wherein thetoken object is one of a plurality types of token objects, and whereineach token of the plurality types of tokens is assigned with an tokenobject unique to the token among the plurality types of token objects.6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media according to claim5, wherein for the one unit section, among the plurality types of tokenobjects, the top N types of token objects corresponding to the top Ntypes of tokens sent to the distributor are determined as first objects,where N is a natural number, wherein for the one unit section, among theplurality types of token objects excluding said first objects, M typesof token objects selected in accordance with priority are determined assecond objects, where M is a natural number, and wherein said first andsecond objects are displayed in the second video during the one timesection.
 7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media accordingto claim 6, wherein the priority is determined on the basis of anidentification number assigned to each of the plurality types of tokenobjects and whether or not each of the plurality types of token objectshas been displayed as one of the first or second objects during aprevious time section before the one time section.
 8. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media according to claim 7, wherein for thesecond unit section occurring after the one unit section and the onetime section, among the plurality types of token objects, the top Ntypes of token objects corresponding to the top N types of tokens sentto the distributor are determined as new first objects, where N is anatural number, wherein for the second unit section, among the pluralitytypes of token objects excluding said new first objects, M types oftoken objects selected in accordance with the priority are determined asnew second objects, where M is a natural number, and wherein said newfirst and second objects are displayed in the second video during a nexttime section occurring after the second unit section.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage media according to claim 8,wherein among the tokens sent to the distributor during the one unitsection, a token corresponding to non-displayed token which is notdisplayed as one of the first or second objects during the one timesection is carried over as a token sent to the distributor during thesecond unit section.
 10. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedia according to claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause thecomputer to: receive, from the terminal device of the viewer via thecommunication line, real-time token data indicative of a token sent tothe distributor from the viewer viewing the second video during the onetime section; and distribute, toward the terminal device of the viewervia the communication line, the second video including, during the onetime section, a rendering of a real-time token object selected on thebasis of the real-time token data.
 11. A terminal device, comprising: atleast one processor, wherein the at least one processor distributes,toward a terminal device of a viewer via a communication line, a firstvideo including an animation of a first avatar of a distributorgenerated on the basis of motion data or the motion data; distributes,toward the terminal device of the viewer via the communication line, asecond video showing a computer-implemented game generated on the basisof operation data by using a received web page; receives, from theterminal device of the viewer via the communication line, gift dataindicative of a gift sent to the distributor from the viewer viewing thesecond video during execution of one unit section of the game; anddistributes, toward the terminal device of the viewer via thecommunication line, the second video including, during one time sectionoccurring after the one unit section of the game ends and before asecond unit section of the game begins, a rendering of a gift objectselected on the basis of the gift data.
 12. A computer-implementedmethod for automatically generating customized video in an interactivenetwork application, the method comprising: with at least one processor:distributing, toward a terminal device of a viewer via a communicationline, a first video including an animation of a first avatar of adistributor generated on the basis of motion data or the motion data;distributing, toward the terminal device of the viewer via thecommunication line, a second video showing a computer-implemented gamegenerated on the basis of operation data by using a received web page;receiving, from the terminal device of the viewer via the communicationline, gift data indicative of a gift sent to the distributor from theviewer viewing the second video during execution of one unit section ofthe game; and distributing, toward the terminal device of the viewer viathe communication line, the second video including, during one timesection occurring after the one unit section of the game ends and beforea second unit section of the game begins, a rendering of a gift objectselected on the basis of the gift data.
 13. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media according to claim 1, wherein the gameis performed by the computer executing a computer program included inthe received web page.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedia according to claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause thecomputer to distribute the second video including the rendering of thetoken object during the one time section, after distributing, during theone unit section of the game, the second video excluding the renderingof the token object.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedia according to claim 1, wherein the one unit section starts from afirst time point at when the distributor executes at least one operationin the game to start a progress of the game, and ends at a second timepoint at when the game pauses.
 16. The terminal device according toclaim 11, wherein the game is performed by the computer executing acomputer program included in the received web page.
 17. The terminaldevice according to claim 11, wherein the at least one processordistributes the second video including the rendering of the gift objectduring the one time section, after distributing, during the one unitsection of the game, the second video excluding the rendering of thegift object.
 18. The terminal device according to claim 11, wherein theone unit section starts from a first time point at when the distributorexecutes at least one operation in the game to start a progress of thegame, and ends at a second time point at when the game pauses.
 19. Thecomputer-implemented method according to claim 12, wherein the game isperformed by the computer executing a computer program included in thereceived web page.
 20. The computer-implemented method according toclaim 12, wherein the method comprises, with the at least one processor,distributing the second video including the rendering of the gift objectduring the one time section after distributing, during the one unitsection of the game, the second video excluding the rendering of thegift object.
 21. The computer-implemented method according to claim 12,wherein the one unit section starts from a first time point at when thedistributor executes at least one operation in the game to start aprogress of the game, and ends at a second time point at when the gamepauses.